Snow Removal Equipment Repairs

[drujinin]

50% of the repairs I do locally involve all sizes of trucks with snow plows on them. I end up redecking alot of dump truck boxes, thanks to them running Salt Spreaders on them. I looked at a one ton dump with a spreader a couple of weeks ago where the guy says, "The pivot shaft on the bed broke on one side, can you weld it?" I told him to take the salter off and move the lights and wiring, then I would look at it. He got the salter off, I went and looked at it only to find the the box to frame pivot shaft had siezed due to lack of grease and salt and was twisted off on both ends. I showed him and gave him a Time and Material price. Yesterday, I jacked the back of the box up, then blocked it. Started cutting rusty remnants out, pounded out the remainder only to find the hinges were tore off from the frame due to the twisting of the siezed shaft! I cut the rear lip off the ends of the box to better access the hinges, ground and refit the hinges and pins. Rewelded the hinges and fit in a new pivot shaft along with grease fittings. I told him I would be back tomorrow(today) to weld the back of the dump box back on where I cut it off.

[DSW]

Picts?

[dellwas]

I have a F-350 plowtruck and John Deere Tractor primarily used for snow removal. Snow gear takes an awful beating, and hence the reason I bought my own welder, and subsequent joining this forum. I'm also lucky in that my neighbors own a mill and forestry equipment and i get to use their gear any time I need it (plasma, mill, lathe, etc.)

Originally Posted by drujinin

50% of the repairs I do locally involve all sizes of trucks with snow plows on them. I end up redecking alot of dump truck boxes, thanks to them running Salt Spreaders on them. I looked at a one ton dump with a spreader a couple of weeks ago where the guy says, "The pivot shaft on the bed broke on one side, can you weld it?" I told him to take the salter off and move the lights and wiring, then I would look at it. He got the salter off, I went and looked at it only to find the the box to frame pivot shaft had siezed due to lack of grease and salt and was twisted off on both ends. I showed him and gave him a Time and Material price. Yesterday, I jacked the back of the box up, then blocked it. Started cutting rusty remnants out, pounded out the remainder only to find the hinges were tore off from the frame due to the twisting of the siezed shaft! I cut the rear lip off the ends of the box to better access the hinges, ground and refit the hinges and pins. Rewelded the hinges and fit in a new pivot shaft along with grease fittings. I told him I would be back tomorrow(today) to weld the back of the dump box back on where I cut it off.

[mrmikey]

I hear you re the lack of grease. Ours are greased twice...the first and last time. It ticks me off to have to do repairs due to lack of common maintenance....Mike

[zapster]

My cab and chassis '99 F-350 is just fine..

The dump however needs a whole new one SOON!
Had a sander in it when I got it..


I will take care of that in the spring with some help..


...zap!

[dellwas]

At TIR, say it ain't so...

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I hear you re the lack of grease. Ours are greased twice...the first and last time. It ticks me off to have to do repairs due to lack of common maintenance....Mike

[dellwas]

Wish i could say the same.... Mine is a '97, but we use lots of road salt here in Nova Scotia. Mine is pretty bad on the drivers side. Patched a lot this past summer, but more will be needed come next spring...

Originally Posted by zapster

My cab and chassis '99 F-350 is just fine..

The dump however needs a whole new one SOON!
Had a sander in it when I got it..


I will take care of that in the spring with some help..


...zap!

[Xtreme Fabrication]

I just finished an complete tear down of my F-350 dump truck that's only used for plowing. Pulled the motor, tranny, etc. Sandblasted the whole frame and put it all back together. Come spring its getting a whole new aluminum dump bed. Its amazing what salt will do to a truck.

I repair 50 plus plows a year, install 25-30 new plows plus a bunch of salt spreader. Its a never ending battle in repairing snow equipment.

[mrmikey]

At TIR, say it ain't so...

I could.......bu then I'd be lyin' LOL.....Mike

[dellwas]

I hear ya, I'm back at the Johnston, not TIR, but CIO, which is just as bad in it's own right...

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I could.......bu then I'd be lyin' LOL.....Mike

[drujinin]

I finished it up late yesterday. If it isn't all painted and covered up, I'll try to get photo's on Wednesday.

[drujinin]

I took photo's yesterday of the right side welded Vertical down with 7018 and the left side welded Vertical down with Arc-Alloy 545, both at 120 amps DC. Then Mig welding of the apron where I cut it off to acces the rear of the hinge. Welds done Vertical and Horizontal. The stick welds were done with my new 2.0 diopter as the 1.5 diopter that I migged with just wasn't clear enough anymore!

[kolot]

might want to reconsider your procedure, it doesn't say but I assume you are using 7018 1/8, if that's true 120 is on the cold side, especially vertical down. Also 7018 has a tendency to trap slag VD, better to run vertical up and a little hotter.

[drujinin]

Thanks Kolot!
Constructive critism is always appreciated!
I'll make a note to run it hotter and I'll work on making it a point to weld UP instead of DOWN.

[kolot]

when you run it uphill you will find it will dig in quite alot compared to Vertical down so watch it. good luck.

[admswelding]

Not to be a smart!@#, but i would not trust those welds with that truck hoisting a heavy load.JMO.

[yorkiepap]

Hey guys,
Well, that 1st snow last month was a wakeup call definitely. I've had (11) repairs come in since with those who left them from last year not getting fixed. It's always the same with the landscape fellows.....last minute. Out of the (11), (5) were mobile, & the other (6) brought them to the shop(3/4-1T pickups). The mobile ones weren't super bad, just bent frames & broken welds. I will say one thing, if you don't have a Porta-Power....GET ONE!!! I have that inexpensive HF 10ton unit.....works superb & REALLY comes in handy. You can make some nice $$$$ with one. Now, everyone is bitchin' cause there's no snow......

Denny

[Steelwill]

Originally Posted by yorkiepap

Hey guys,
. Now, everyone is bitchin' cause there's no snow......

Denny

Its comming I'm getting our equipment ready now

[drujinin]

It is nice here still. Lots of Landscapers crying for snow. Doesn't come, it won't hurt my feelings.

[blumoon]

we got 22 inches last week at my place, then rain for 4 days straight...got about 6 inches left. I have to say the state here just started using salt the last couple years, and liquid calcium, what a mess it makes....why the hell cant they use sand like they have been doing for the last 50 plus years..........the liquid crap eats the wiring up and the salt rust everything.......go figure........guess there are smarter then me........I don't envy you guys that have to repair the rusty bent up plows......not fun, but money in the pocket...

[Doug247]

Ill have to say thats nice for vert down 7018, however it is what it is and its still a 7018 down weld. In most cases you should weld up if u know how. I read alot here when people are telling guys who are trying to learn how to weld up, saying 120+ amps for vert 1/8th but IMHO if you know how to keep the rod lit at the lower end of the range for that rod, moving slower you will get a better weld and better looking weld than trying to squirt it in at as hot as possible. As you get better you can turn it up hot as u can run it. I also want to say I think your repair is going to last a long time, i have seen alot worse stand up through time.

[drujinin]

Doug, Thanks!
Thats the thing with forums. Lots of people will critize something but not offer a solution. I am not afraid to post photo's of my work. I have been Oxy-Acet and AC arc welding since I was 12. I learned to Mig in night school for Adult learning. I was taught to Tig by a guy I worked with. I weld stick mostly with DC at the home shop or Mig. I use Tig when the application requires. I vary rarely Oxy-Acet weld any more, though I still braze some stuff. On my Lincoln portable I primarily use 60XX rod as it is usefully broke out in a field somewhere.
If people will explain to me what I am doing wrong, then I can correct it. But if they just say its no good, then what do I think?

[admswelding]

Try grinding if you didn,t before you weld,that looks as if the base metal was dirty.

[drujinin]

Actually down under the weld it was all ground prior to weld. The first bead laid in nice and tight. It was the next 3 passes down that pretty much filled the grind. Trying to weld across for Radius fill is what made it look worse. I'll try running hotter next time when I get into a similiar (steel) project.
Thanks to everyone for the input!